Import DXF / DWG backgrounds

This option lets you use a model saved previously in a dxf or dwg file as a drawing background. Thus you can define a 3D structure model based on a set of 2D projections from an architect.

Select the File menu > Import > DXF and DWG Backgrounds to access this option.

Toggling the Link option in the Open dialog you can decide if a background is imported to a file:

• clear Link to save the background objects with an RTD file
• select Link to establish a link between a dxf / dwg file and an rtd file. If a drawing file is deleted or moved to another folder, the background objects are not visible in an rtd model. If a file location changes, you can update the file path using the background properties in the Inspector pane. Remember that when you are sending an rtd model to another computer.

Select a dxf or dwg file and click Open to open the DXF/DWGImport dialog.

Layers tab

Use the Show layers option to limit layers from a dxf or dwg file (All or Visible).

The table displays names of layers and you can select whether a layer is or is not imported (in the Import column).

Insert tab

Use the options on this tab to define parameters of inserting the objects.

The Units selection list lets you select units that were used in a dxf or dwg file; Use the User-defined option on the Units list to define any unit. Insertion parameters refer to gobal directions (expressed by perpendicular planes):

• Plane (XY, XZ, YZ) defines a plane in which to insert a background
• Reference point - coordinates in the plane selected on the Plane list; they specify a characteristic point in the loaded background that is used to determine the insertion point in the model space, edit options or selections)
• Insertion point - coordinates in the plane selected on the Plane list; they specify a position of the reference point of the background in the model space.
• Position on X, Y or Z axis (depending on a selected plane): a coordinate on the axis that is perpendicular to the selected plane; it specifies a position of the background in the 3D model space. This coordinate defines a position of the background in the 3D projection and is the basis for defining an automatic visibility range of the background in projections.

Scale and rotation - use the options here to transform a background in the selected plane by performing a scaling operation and defining a rotation angle. You can also load a mirrored background; it might be convenient when you are loading the background of the elevation of a building.

Visibility in the projection:

• User-defined (define values of the visibility range in the From and To fields)
• Automatic - a visibility range is limited by story levels and structure axes; the position coordinate on the axis that is perpendicular to the background plane specifies characteristic planes between which the background lies (that is, the planes between which the background is visible in a projection)
• Unlimited - visibility is not limited, it is independent of the specified coordinate).

Backgrounds in the Object Inspector

Backgrounds are displayed as Auxiliary ojects in the Object Inspector pane. You can edit parameters of backgrounds in the peoperties table in the lower part of Object Inspector.

Use the options in the View dialog to toggle independently the visibility of all backgrounds in projections and 3D views.

To toggle the visibilty of a background, select the General > On: Yes or No option in the background properties in the Inspector pane.

Useful information concerning work with a background:

• Find middle intersection points

  The cursor is located at the middle intersection points of 2 pairs of parallel lines (such as a wall corner). It lets you easily define walls that are drawn using 2 parallel lines on the background and defined in a model using a central line. Lines that are taken into account to specify central lines, are highlighted when the cursor is near the intersection of their central lines. To ensure that the cursor snaps to central lines efficiently, clear the Grid option in the Snap Settings dialog.

• Adjust wall thickness to backgrounds

  Use the Adjust to background option in the Walls dialog to automatically specify the wall (panel) thickness, if is defined using central lines. A new label is assigned the same material as for the previous thickness.

• Link option when a dxf or dwg file is loaded

  If selected, a background is automatically updated after making changes in a file. If a dxf/dwg file location changes, specify a correct path using the background properties in the Inspector pane.

  If Link is cleared, a dxf/dwg file is loaded to an rtd file and is not updated.

• Dxf/dwg backgrounds are independent of the backgrounds associated with the lower and upper story that are created automatically based on objects on a story.